Subject: "How can I know God's will for my life? What does the Bible say about knowing God's will?"
It is important to know God's will. Jesus said that His true relations are those who know and do the Father's will: "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:35). In the parable of the two sons, Jesus rebukes the chief priests and elders for failing to do the will of the Father; specifically, they "did not repent and believe" (Matthew 21:32). At its most basic, the will of God is to repent of our sin and trust in Christ. If we have not taken that first step, then we have not yet accepted God's will.
Once we receive Christ by faith, we are made God's children (John 1:12), and He desires to lead us in His way (Psalm 143:10). God is not trying to hide His will from us; He wants to reveal it. In fact, He has already given us many, many directions in His Word. We are to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We are to do good works (1 Peter 2:15). And "it is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
God's will is knowable and provable. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." This passage gives us an important sequence: the child of God refuses to be conformed to the world and instead allows himself to be transformed by the Spirit. As his mind is renewed according to the things of God, then he can know God's perfect will.
As we seek God's will, we should make sure what we are considering is not something the Bible forbids. For example, the Bible forbids stealing; since God has clearly spoken on the issue, we know it is not His will for us to be a bank robbers—we don't even need to pray about it. Also, we should make sure what we are considering will glorify God and help us and others grow spiritually.
Knowing God's will is sometimes difficult because it requires patience. It's natural to want to know all of God's will at once, but that's not how He usually works. He reveals to us a step at a time—each move a step of faith—and allows us to continue to trust Him. The important thing is that, as we wait for further direction, we are busy doing the good that we know to do (James 4:17).
Often, we want God to give us specifics—where to work, where to live, whom to marry, what car to buy, etc. God allows us to make choices, and, if we are yielded to Him, He has ways of preventing wrong choices (see Acts 16:6–7).
The better we get to know a person, the more acquainted we become with his or her desires. For example, a child may look across a busy street at the ball that bounced away, but he doesn't run after it, because he knows "my dad wouldn't want me to do that." He doesn't have to ask his father for advice on every particular situation; he knows what his father would say because he knows his father. The same is true in our relationship to God. As we walk with the Lord, obeying His Word and relying on His Spirit, we find that we are given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We know Him, and that helps us to know His will. We find God's guidance readily available. "The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, / but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness" (Proverbs 11:5).
If we are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for our lives, God will place His desires in our hearts. The key is wanting God's will, not our own. "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).
Please read these scriptures (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 103:3; Matthew 4:23, 8:3. Revelation 22:6.
Week # 9: Weekly prayer:
God, you know me better than I know myself. You know my fears and my desires. You know how much I want this. You know how much I will be devastated if this doesn't happen. I know you love me. I know you have a plan for me. Please, Lord, don't let my desires blind me to your will. If this is not within your plan for me, throw up a Brick Wall. Give me an obstacle I cannot get past. Help me follow your will, Father. Give me peace about whatever is to come. If this falls through, I will know it is your hand. Thank you for loving me, Lord, sometimes my situations will hinder me from knowing Your will at that very moment, I pray for Your will to be done in my life, and that when it take place I will know it's You and Your will for me. Thank You, Lord, for letting me know when it's Your will, the enemy, or my flesh. Thank You for revealing this to me right now in Jesus' name. Father God, teach us to see Your will operating in our lives as they did in Bible days. We do experience miracles, but sometimes we just can't see them. Help us, Lord. Through lessons we have been taught that about Your healing power, and knowing Your will and plan for us. Thank You, Lord. Father God, open the eyes of our hearts in Jesus' name, Amen
Week # 9 Quiz:
1). Does God work miraculous healings, such as the ones we find in the Bible, in the present day?
A. Absolutely not, all supernatural healings came to an end at the close of the New Testament period (1 Corinthians 13:1-10).
B. God indeed grants amazing healings today, but they are never miraculous SIGNS such as those that confirmed the divine commission of Christ and His apostles to speak the word of God.
C. Absolutely yes, Jesus said "...he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do" (John 14:12).
D. The answer to this question cannot be determined from Scripture.
2). To whom did Jesus say, "Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee." And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Zacchaeus
A centurion
Peter's father-in-law.
The doorkeeper at the temple.
3). To whom did Jesus say, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."
A man who had been caught in adultery.
The demoniac at the Gazerenes.
A man who had palsy.
A blind man.
Scripture Reading Luke 17
According to Luke 17:19, what does Jesus tell the man that has made him well?
A). His good works in the past
B). His optimistic view on life
C). His friendship with the other lepers
D). His faith
According to this study: Questions
1). What is the first step should we take in accepting God's will?
2). Name some Biblical Principles concerning God's will.
3). If we are to know God's will, how should we go about it?
4). Fill in the blank (from this lesson)
If we are ______________ with the Lord and truly desiring His _______for our lives, God will place His ________in our hearts. The _____ is wanting God's will, not our _______.
My Confession:
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